Hospice Licensed Practical Nurse

Position Purpose:

Under the supervision of the Director of Hospice Services, the Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) is responsible for the day-to-day nursing care of clients. The LPN’s job responsibilities may include helping their clients bathe, dress and eat; go to the bathroom; and get their daily exercise. They change bandages, dressings and catheters, and monitor and assess their clients' condition every day by taking vital signs such as blood pressure, temperature, and weight. An LPN is a professional who plans and manages client care according to each individual's needs and explains these clearly to the client and client’s family.

Organization: 
This position reports to the Director of Hospice Services.

Essential Job Functions include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Provides skilled nursing care to hospice patients under the supervision of a Registered Nurse
• Implements the individualized plan of care established by the RN Case Manager and interdisciplinary group
• Records patients history
• Taking vital signs such as blood pressure, temperature, and weight and record them in their file
• Observes, reports, and documents patient condition, symptom changes and response to treatment
• Administers medications and treatments as ordered by the physician and permitted by Oklahoma law and agency policy
• Reinforces patient and caregiver education regarding medications, disease process, safety measures, infection control and comfort measures
• Assists with pain and symptom management interventions
• Provides foley catheter care, wound care, ostomy care and other skilled nursing procedures within scope of practice
• Reports significant findings, changes in patient condition, or safety concerns promptly to the RN Case Manager and physician as appropriate
• Completes timely and accurate clinical documentation in the electronic medical record
• Participates in interdisciplinary group meetings and care coordination activities as assigned
• Supports patients and families emotionally and professionally during end-of-life care
• Maintains patient confidentiality and complies with HIPAA requirements
• Participates in agency prevention and safety standards
• Performs on -call duties as assigned
• Performs other duties as assigned

Knowledge and Experience

• High School Graduate, Accredited LPN school graduate
• Current LPN licensure in Oklahoma
• Current Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) required
• Current Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) preferred
• 2-3 years recent Hospice LPN experience preferred
• Current Driver's License, vehicle insurance, and access to a dependable vehicle or public transportation
• Active car insurance
• Medical knowledge, patience, compassion, kindness, critical thinking skills, knowledge of infection control practices, stamina, and physical endurance, observational skills, knowledge of occupational hazards and safety rules, communication skills, leadership, empathy

Physical Activity: 
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The work requires moderately heavy physical exertion on a regular and recurring basis such as: extensive driving, assisting client in transfer activities (wheelchair, to bed, to tub, to commode) and providing substantial support to individuals in ambulation. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, to handle or feel, and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; reach with hands and arms; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee is occasionally required to sit. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move over 100 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. 

WORKING CONDITIONS:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

General office, client home setting, exposure to infectious diseases, automobile. 
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified.